The time is near to blast off to Launch Headquarters at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), FL for a weekend getaway at the World's Largest Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show! This family-friendly weekend features autograph sessions, astronaut photo opportunities, lectures from the legends, a unique space auction — and the fun doesn't stop there! Visit the show's space-related Exhibitor Hall; enjoy all the incredible attractions the KSC Visitor Complex has to offer; and get ready to meet, mingle and dine with hero astronauts and space icons! Check out the Schedule of Events for more details about this cosmic experience!

Nowhere else on Earth can you enjoy sun, surf and space with some of history's greatest astronauts! Don't delay in securing your SPACE today! Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, who aids the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships to exceptional college students pursuing degrees in these fields. Cost of the ticket packages, over fair market value, should be considered a charitable donation.

Astronaut participants (as of July 16, 2012):

Buzz Aldrin (Gemini 12, Apollo 11)

Alan Bean (Apollo 12, Skylab 2)

John Blaha (STS-29, STS-33, STS-43, STS-58, STS-79, Mir-22)

Vance Brand (Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, STS-5, STS-41B, STS-35)

Daniel Brandenstein (STS-8, STS-51G, STS-32, STS-49)

Scott Carpenter (Mercury 7)

Gerald Carr (Skylab 3)

Eugene Cernan (Gemini 9, Apollo 10, Apollo 17)

Richard Covey (STS-51I, STS-26, STS-38, STS-61)

Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7)

Charles Duke (Apollo 16)

Edward Gibson (Skylab 3)

Richard Gordon (Gemini 11, Apollo 12)

Fred Haise (Apollo 13)

Joseph Kerwin (Skylab 1)

Jack Lousma (Skylab 2, STS-3)

Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14)

William Pogue (Skylab 3)

Norman Thagard (STS-7, STS-51B, STS-30, STS-42, Soyuz TM-21, Mir)

Kathryn Thornton (STS-33, STS-49, STS-61, STS-73)

Paul Weitz (Skylab 1, STS-6)

Alfred Worden (Apollo 15)

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-18-2012 10:18 AM
Question for anyone who has gone to this event before, are you allowed to take pictures at the VIP reception/dinner with the astronauts?

We've all been hearing the rumors about the astronauts possibly starting to charge for pics at the autograph show, and I can understand that. But I was wondering if pictures were allowed in the past at the VIP reception/dinner? For $600-$1200, depending on what ticket you bought, I was hoping I might get a few pictures.

xlsteveMember

Posts: 381From: Holbrook MA, USARegistered: Jul 2008

posted 07-18-2012 12:59 PM
I've been to the past two, and pictures were just fine at those events. At the autograph tables as well from my experience.

posted 07-19-2012 07:44 AM
When I looked last night it said he had signed on to be part of the autograph show.

Anyone doing a get other people items signed type deal for this show? Just wondering.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 30127From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 07-19-2012 07:53 AM
A heads-up for those attending or considering attending the show — NASA plans to move space shuttle Atlantis to the Visitor Complex on Friday, Nov. 2.

This will be a special-ticketed event. General admission purchased for November 2 will not be valid. Please check back for ticket details.

I suspect the ASF will arrange for show attendees (at least the higher ticket levels, if not everyone) to be able to attend.

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-19-2012 10:09 AM
I read on ASF's Facebook page that Dave Scott is now attending, Nov 1-3, so I think he is signing.

Edit: To those who responded, yes I saw that, I corrected my previous post about the participants, I was indeed on the wrong page.

Further edit: Looks like they picked up Fred Gregory, Mike McCulley, and Story Musgrave also.

mode1charlieMember

Posts: 651From: Honolulu, HI, USARegistered: Sep 2010

posted 07-19-2012 03:40 PM
Great news about David Scott. Despite some of the reservations voiced after Spacefest IV, I found him to be very gentlemanly and approachable.

I thought I read somewhere that Lovell would be attending, but he's not listed on the ASF site. Did I misread something? Perhaps I read he would be at the Apollo 17 gala, but not the autograph show.

Of the astronauts likely to attend, only Lovell, Schweickart, and Stafford are not (yet) listed. (Schmitt also, but he will presumably be at the gala, just not the autograph show.) This is shaping up to be something really quite special.

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-19-2012 03:52 PM

quote:Originally posted by mode1charlie:I thought I read somewhere that Lovell would be attending, but he's not listed on the ASF site.

This was discussed in another topic. I suspect he'll be there for the Apollo dinner Saturday, but they do not list who is coming to that.

quote:Originally posted by cycleroadie:Further edit: Looks like they picked up Fred Gregory, Mike McCulley, and Story Musgrave also.

Where did you hear Story Musgrave is coming?

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-20-2012 08:47 AM
Man, he was on the ASF show list of astronauts yesterday I swear! It was daytime and I was not drinking, maybe I imagined it, ha! Looks like they (and hence I was) might have been premature on that as he's not on there today. as they said, it's subject to change!

Skyguy48Member

Posts: 119From: ScotlandRegistered: Jun 2011

posted 07-23-2012 06:57 PM

quote:Originally posted by cycleroadie:Question for anyone who has gone to this event before, are you allowed to take pictures at the VIP reception/dinner with the astronauts?

Last year at the reception, in fact anywhere at the ASF show, the guys were just fabulous about photos been taken!

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-24-2012 11:47 AM
According to ASF's Facebook page, Owen Garriot will be attending now for the autograph show.

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-28-2012 11:10 AM
I am looking for someone to "partner" up with at the VIP reception. Since I will be attending alone and unable to take a picture of myself, and finding someone each time you want a picture taken can be a hassle, it would be nice to mingle among the astronauts with another cS'er so we could trade cameras to get pictures of the other with the astronauts and special guests. If you would be interested, email me. Thanks! — Lloyd

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 07-31-2012 12:17 PM
Looks like the first female shuttle pilot and commander Eileen Collins will also be at the ASF show in November according to ASF's Facebook page.

Rob JoynerMember

Posts: 1307From: GA, USARegistered: Jan 2004

posted 07-31-2012 07:21 PM
Sure wish they'd update their website for those of us who don't live and breathe Facebook. Springer, Garriott and now Collins.

SpacefestMember

Posts: 1118From: Tucson, AZ USARegistered: Jan 2009

posted 08-01-2012 01:17 PM
You don't have to live and breathe it, or join. Just bookmark the page, and look at it.

It's quicker and easier to update than a website. You don't have to know HTML.

Rob JoynerMember

Posts: 1307From: GA, USARegistered: Jan 2004

posted 08-02-2012 12:02 AM
But it's actually easier to look at a bookmarked alphabetical astronaut webpage and see who is coming at a quick glance instead of having to scroll through Facebook's God-awful timeline and unrelated material.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 30127From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 08-02-2012 03:59 AM
With regards to Facebook, not sure if I am stating the obvious, but you can go directly to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's page, where the timeline is only updates from the organization.

Another shortcut, since they post a photo every time they announce a new guest, is to look at their wall photo album. (On that note, just be sure to read the captions: you noted Springer as a show guest, but I believe his announcement was from the Hall of Fame induction earlier this year.)

And, barring that, there's always our own Sightings calendar, which is kept as close as up to date as possible.

BMacKinnonMember

Posts: 171From: Waterford, MI. USARegistered: Jul 2007

posted 08-03-2012 08:42 AM
I see that Dan Brandenstein has been removed from the ASF website for the show but Don Williams and Rick Hauck have been added.

Skyguy48Member

Posts: 119From: ScotlandRegistered: Jun 2011

posted 08-06-2012 05:25 PM
Could anyone tell me if Dr. Schmitt will be at the ASF show doing signings?

mjanovecMember

Posts: 3635From: Midwest, USARegistered: Jul 2005

posted 08-06-2012 05:45 PM

quote:Originally posted by Skyguy48:Could anyone tell me if Dr. Schmitt will be at the ASF show doing signings?

The odds are extremely remote.

I'm sure the ASF and Spacefest have begged Schmitt to sign at past events, only to be turned down. Chances are nothing will change this time around.

BlackarrowMember

Posts: 2213From: Belfast, United KingdomRegistered: Feb 2002

posted 08-06-2012 06:11 PM
Am I right in assuming that there are now NO plans to hold a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 17 along the lines of the celebrations for all the other missions? I'm referring to the $1,000-a-head events where Neil Armstrong always turned up to give a speech. Is the dinner on Sat. 3rd November meant to be it? Clearly (in spite of attending the dedicated Apollo 15 dinner) Harrison Schmitt doesn't seem to think so.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 30127From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 08-06-2012 06:57 PM
The Apollo 17 40th Anniversary Dinner, which is being held concurrent with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show 2012, is consistent with other Apollo missions' 40th anniversaries celebrations — perhaps most closely with Apollo 12, which was also held as part of the annual show (Armstrong attended that event, too, without much advance notice).

Both Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt have been announced as attending the Nov. 3, 2012, dinner. Schmitt is not however, participating in the autograph show.

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 08-07-2012 02:25 PM
ASF just announced on their Facebook page that space shuttle astronaut Mary Cleave will be at their show in November.

VictorinoxMember

Posts: 10From: Miami, Florida, USARegistered: Jul 2012

posted 08-07-2012 03:08 PM

quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:The Apollo 17 40th Anniversary Dinner, which is being held concurrent with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show 2012, is consistent with other Apollo missions' 40th anniversaries celebrations.

A question from someone who wasn't lucky enough to attended the previous dinners, but will attend this one: What is the protocol? What are you allowed to do? Can you ask any astronaut for pictures? Ask for autographs?.

Also, does anyone know what are the signing fees for the astronauts participating in the autograph show? I have an idea by looking at the previous year's fees posted in the forum, but I was wondering if there is anything official for 2012. I am setting up the stuff I want signed, but with limited budget I would love to figure out what to bring and who to ask for autographs. Thanks!

xlsteveMember

Posts: 381From: Holbrook MA, USARegistered: Jul 2008

posted 08-07-2012 03:24 PM

quote:Originally posted by Victorinox:A question from someone who wasn't lucky enough to attended the previous dinners, but will attend this one: What is the protocol? What are you allowed to do? Can you ask any astronaut for pictures? Ask for autographs?

Autographs are limited to the autograph room at the show. You'll see 'no autographs' signs in the lobby for both the VIP reception and the dinner (and I would imagine the movie event also this year). Photos are usually fine at the VIP reception and probably during the mingling portion of the dinner.

Autograph fees are usually published as we get closer to the show, but in plenty of time to budget appropriately. Just keep an eye on ASF's web site.

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 08-07-2012 03:26 PM

quote:Originally posted by Victorinox:Also, does anyone know what are the signing fees for the astronauts participating in the autograph show?

From ASF's webpage "Astronauts charge a fee for their autograph, and a price list will be published online at least 30 days prior to the show." If you want a "ballpark", you can find some of the astronaut's fees on SPACEFEST IV's website, they are probably close.

This will be my first ASF show, so I cannot comment on the dinner, my gut says there won't be a lot of opportunities for that. However a number of people have told me that pictures at the VIP reception are no problem.

BlackarrowMember

Posts: 2213From: Belfast, United KingdomRegistered: Feb 2002

posted 08-07-2012 04:42 PM
Thanks for the clarification, Robert. As there is no mention of Dr. Schmitt on "Encounters" I had assumed that he would not be present and that the dinner has simply been absorbed into the autograph show. For the sake of those attending, and for posterity, I hope Captain Cernan and Dr. Schmitt can both attend and that the event is a great success. I only wish I could be there.

Dave ClowMember

Posts: 230From: South Pasadena, CA 91030Registered: Nov 2003

posted 08-08-2012 09:49 AM
The other activities at ASF are better for photos — the signing session and the cocktail reception. By the dinner, as I've seen, photos are largely over and no autographs are allowed.

ilbassoMember

Posts: 1501From: Greensboro, NC USARegistered: Feb 2006

posted 08-08-2012 10:05 AM
Correct, no autographs at dinner, or at any activity other than the actual autograph show. You can walk up to the astronauts and introduce yourself and get photos taken, but it's best to do it after the dinner.

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 08-15-2012 09:48 AM
Platinum Tickets have joined the Platinum Plus Tickets in the sold out status. Still have Gold Tickets and the Apollo 17 Dinner tickets available.

posted 08-17-2012 10:28 PM
I see the Platinum Plus tour has been moved to November 3 and is no longer listed as the Astronaut Hall of Fame or VAB. Does anyone know if this is because of the proposed Atlantis roll-over on November 2? Any clues what it's going to be?

cycleroadieMember

Posts: 315From: Apalachin, NY USARegistered: May 2011

posted 08-18-2012 07:16 AM
I sent an inquiry to Nicole at ASF, I'll let you know what she says.

EDIT: Nicole replied, she did not indicate why the date moved for the astronaut hosted tour, but I don't think it's due to the Atlantis rollover as she said there is some talk about that date moving now from 11/2. We'll just have to wait and see on the rollover happening on ASF weekend or not.

gliderpilotukMember

Posts: 3207From: London, UKRegistered: Feb 2002

posted 08-19-2012 09:07 AM
Is no-one excited by the fact that all eight of the surviving Skylab astronauts are attending? THAT would make a great group photo.

JasonBMember

Posts: 782From: Registered: Sep 2003

posted 08-19-2012 09:34 AM
I was excited that the Apollo 9 crew would be there. Don't know if it will be possible to get a group shot with them, but that would be cool.

I cant remember an entire Apollo crew being available somewhere to sign together since the Apollo 12 crew in 1999.